Chapter 52: Where the Sun Sets

A carriage with Aurelia’s coat of arms went on the bridge over the sea.

Since time hadn’t long passed since the high tide, the sea water was thinly scattered over the stone pavement.

Splashes of seawater splashed up on the wheels that were bathed by the golden lights of the sunset.

From the window of the horse-drawn carriage, Palug was gazing at the Island of Messenger that was becoming farther away.

The island looked like a towering stronghold as it made a dark shadow upon the sea.

It was an island where many traces of angels were left behind.

It was a place where she had lived for hundreds of years.

It was a place where numerous memories slept.

A place where her home was supposed to be.

『I am destined to be forgotten forever.

Still, the current freedom is not bad.

To the extent that I am immersed in the sentiments of parting, I am free.』

Palug muttered without speaking to anyone.

The sun went down while gradually repainting the color of the world.

The sea surrounding the island was golden and the sky was shining in the color of flame.

She was staring at that sight where the bright red sun, who loved her more than anyone, blended into the ocean.

『Farewell, my God, my King, my people.

—Farewell, my Prince.』

Her voice that was saying goodbye, along with the sweet sentiment, melted in the sea breeze and disappeared.

『You’re being overdramatic, cat.』

『Because~, I will be swept away to the West, right?

I will not be able to meet with Auguste.

It will be lonely and that’s the same as being dead.』

A cat with golden coat stiffly fluttered over the horse-drawn carriage seat.

The carriage was still on the bridge connecting the continent with the island, even after leaving the Island of Messenger for more than ten minutes.

That was too quick to feel homesick.

However, as the new contractor, I also had to care about the well-being of the eidolon.

“Please bear with it for six more years. At that time, you will see Auguste’s face almost every day.”

『Eh? What, what?

Erica, are you going to get married to Auguste that soon?

Yaay! At that time, please take me along with your wedding preparations to Ignitia!』

Palug expressed her joy by jumping up and down as if her lack of energy just now was a lie.

She had a terrible misunderstanding, so I had to correct it.

“Both Auguste and I are supposed to enroll in the Leandez Magic Academy.

Palug also may as well come with me to the school dormitory.

I’m sorry that I am not from Ignitia.”

『Is that so? But, how do you know things that will happen six years in the future?』

『It is a story of the aforementioned oracle.』

『Oracle? What is that?』

I nodded.

It was not possible to exclude one person in a group, besides it was fine for Palug to know about it.

But, how should I explain it?

“I have gotten a future oracle that could happen.

The result of the oracle is brought in the form of a vision seen from the eyes of a certain person.

The only place I could see is Leandez, and the period is only a short period of six years in the future.”

『That looks like a fairly restrictive oracle.

I don’t know how useful that is.』

“Not really.

To tell the truth, the fact that I could predict about that incident was also from the information in the oracle.”

『The information that an angel like you was lurking was not included even a single word though.』

Auguste fell from the dragon in the tournament.

Erica scorned him blatantly.

The depressed Auguste fused with the contract beast and gained the capability to ride.

These were the only information on the incident of the Advent Festival.

How did it end up becoming like this?

Aah, but when I thought about it, the incident six years in the future was called ‘The St. Angel Anthropophagism Case’.

I thought that it was the scenario’s title since it was an incident that occurred on Holy Angel’s holiday.

I would never think that a real angel was the culprit.

『Because of the oracle?

Did you help Auguste only for that reason?

You must have a lot of near-death experiences.

You, you can’t simply be a good-natured person.』

Palug snapped at me as if she was about to jump down my throat.

She was exposing her teeth and bristling in anger.

The face of a cat was unexpectedly rich in expression.

『Fu~n, I wasn’t planning on dying though……』

“Palug, I have a good reason.

If we didn’t stop your fusion with Auguste, I will be killed and eaten alive.

And you will have used up your remaining power after six years, because you are only a fragment of what you were.”

『In fact, she almost did being eaten alive by a cat.』

Palug blushed and looked at me with an embarrassed expression.

After freezing for a few seconds, she opened her mouth while tilting her neck.

『Then, wouldn’t it be fine if you just don’t enter Leandez Magic Academy?』

『Umu, what the cat said is true.』

“Both of you, if I did that, wouldn’t someone else be eaten instead of me?”

To my words, Tirnanog and Palug exchanged looks with each other.

『Hey, as expected this child is bottomless……』

『Umu. Only this time I will agree with you.』

The two of them repeatedly glancing at me while whispering with each other.

I already knew that I had no planning ability, so I wished they didn’t keep criticizing me.

Next time, I would have to do better.

Trying to escape from the prickling gazes, I forcibly returned to the previous conversation.

“According to the oracle, there are five more incidents that will cause my death six years in the future.

From now on, Tir and I may take strange actions secretly, but I want you to pretend it doesn’t happen.”

『It’s related to my important friend, Erica’s life. I will not let you say no.』

『Well, I see. That’s right. In that case, it cannot be helped.』

About my request and Tirnanog’s threat, Palug had a somewhat determined look.

She stood up on her hind limbs and hit her chest with her right foreleg.

『I will lend you a hand. You are in need of more collaborators, aren’t you?』

“Ehh! There is no need for Palug to go to that extent.

Since your life has been extended with so much troubles, I want you to take care of yourself.”

『I am an eidolon that has made a contract with you. So please rely on me more.

I have been considerably weakened, so it would be difficult for me to battle.

Unlike the serpent over there, wouldn’t it save you some trouble if you have more personnel who can move to attack from the rear?』

『Umu……』

Certainly, if I had to say my real intention, I really wanted to borrow the help of the cat.

Even more so since she was the strongest cat-type eidolon.

“Well then, may I ask a favour?”

『Leave it to me. My life is saved by you. I will dedicate it to you.』

“Wait, that’s too heavy. I don’t need your life.”

『Then, I will help you to appreciate the beauty of blonde hair and blue eyes.』

『Hey cat, that would be too trivial.』

『I-it’s not for you, but for my precious Auguste.』

“Aah, then I’m convinced.”

『Is this okay, Erica……』

Anyway, my reliable friends increased.

I didn’t feel like I would be defeated with the combination of the world’s largest black dragon and the strongest real angel by my side.

Although I was a bit uneasy since both of them were weakened.

『If you have decided, I would like you to buy some clothes.

With the appearance of a cat, there are limits to the actions that can be done.』

“I understand. What kind of clothes do you want?”

『Two kinds of clothing first, for a man and a woman. One is in merchant-style and one aristocratic-style.

The most important things are boots that fit perfectly with my feet.』

In that way, Palug transformed into a human figure abruptly and raised her feet so as to show off.

I hurriedly closed the curtain of the carriage.

I didn’t think anyone was watching, but that was bad for my heart.

『Do not look unsightly.

Without the discipline of a domestic cat, the one who will be criticize is not you but Erica.』

『What a noisy serpent.』

Palug returned to the form of a kitten and looked away from Tirnanog with a huff.

“Both of you, I wonder if you can get along a little more.”

『You ask me to get along with this guy? No matter how much my friend requested it, that is an unreasonable request.』

『Eeh~? I am always friendly, you know?』

『In what way are you friendly.』

『Please be grateful. Because I didn’t kill you.』

『You should regret it. That you didn’t kill me before.』

In the horse-drawn carriage, the two phantom beasts were running around and made the carriage felt even more crowded.

Sometimes they looked as if they got along, sometimes they didn’t, I felt lost in my judgement.

Still, they both had friends to quarrel with, and above all they seemed to be having fun for some reason.

While being bathed in golden lights, the carriage we rode was running.

The lonely phantom cat turned towards the place where nobody knew her.

But no one would forget her anymore.

Even in the place where the sun set far westward, the cat would surely be able to do well.

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